Harvest Happiness

It’s all aboard the Pumpkinliner train or, for the daring, the mechanical bull. Then replenish yourself with chowder or a movie. There’s always something happening when the brisk autumn air reigns.

Posted September 13, 2011 by Natalia Knochowski, Dervela O'Brien

Ninth Annual Hometown Harvest Fair
October 1
Hightstown
Music, pony rides, chili cook-off and a mechanical bull and dunk tank. Downtown area, 10 am-4 pm; free. (hightstownfair.org)

11th Annual Oktoberfest
October 1
Highlands
Veterans Park, Bay and Shrewsbury avenues, 2-10 pm; free. (732-291-4713; highlandsnj.com/hbp)

Essex County Octoberfest
October 1
Roseland
Essex County Environmental Center, 11 am-4 pm; free. (973-228-8776; essex-countynj.org)

32nd Annual Cranberry Festival
October 1-2;
Bordentown
Farnsworth Avenue, 10 am-5 pm; free. (609-298-8066; downtownbordentown.com/events.htm)

Ninth Annual Garden State Garlic Gathering
October 1-2
Lafayette
Olde Lafayette Village, 10 am-4 pm; free. Routes 15 and 94 (973-209-4903; jerseygrown.com)

Harvest Fest
October 1-2
Ringwood
New Jersey Botanical Garden, 10 am-5 pm; free. (973-962-9534; njbg.org/events.html)

20th Annual Blackwood Pumpkin Festival 
October 2 Blackwood
Blackwood Library, 15 S. Blackhorse Pike, 11 am-4 pm; free. (856-227-3091; 609-405-0306; mainstage.org)

Whippany Railway Museum’s 11th Annual Pumpkin Festival
October 2
Whippany
Whippany Railway Museum, 1 Railroad Plaza, 12:30-5:30 pm; 50 cents for children; $1 for adults. Ride the Pumpkinliner train: $8 for children under 13; $13 for adults. (973-887-8177; whippanyrailwaymuseum.net)
 
Chowderfest Weekend
October 2
Beach Haven
Unlimited chowder tasting, live music and craft vendors. 11 am-4 pm; $10 for children; $20 for adults. 9th Street and Taylor Avenue (609-494-7211; visitlbiregion.com)

10th Annual Fall Festival
October 2
Salem
12-6 pm; $13.50. Scarecrow Hollow Corn Maze, 335 Quinton-Hancock’s Bridge Road. (856-935-3469, scarecrowhollow.org)

Fall Family Fun Weekends
October 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23
Princeton
Live music to 4 pm, wagon rides, a corn maze and food.
Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. 10 am-5 pm; $5 (children under 3, free). (609-924-2310; terhuneorchards.com)

Fall Harvest Weekends
October 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23
Pittstown Apple and pumpkin, hayrides, music, sand art and face painting.
Peaceful Valley Orchards, free. Hayrides, $2; kids activities, $8. 150 Pittstown Road (908-730-7748; peacefulvalleyorchards.com)

Deerfield Township Harvest Festival
October 7-9
Bridgeton
Fri, 6 to 10 pm; free. Sat and Sun, 12-10 pm; $1. 678 Morton Avenue  (856-455-3200; deerfieldtownship.org/harvestfestival/index.htm)

Oktoberfest 2011
October 8
Warren
11 am to 6 pm; $7.  11 Reinman Road (908-754-7300; forestlodgecatering.com)

West Cape May Lima Bean Festival
October 8
Cape May
Wilbraham Park, 9 am to 5 pm; free (609-884-9325; westcapemaytoday.com)

Wildwood Seafood and Music Festival
October 8
Wildwood
Atlantic Avenue between Wildwood and Schellenger avenues, 11 am to 7 pm; free.  (609-729-4000; gwcoc.com)

Apple Festival
October 8
Medford
Kirby’s Mill, 9 am; free (discovermedford.com/events.html)

Fall Harvest Festival & Craft Show
October 8
Ocean Grove
Main Avenue, 10 am to 4 pm; free.  (732-774-1391; oceangrovenj.com)

Cape May Wine Festival
October 8-9
Cape May
Cape May-Lewes Ferry Terminal, noon to 5 pm; $25.  (609-588-0085; newjerseywines.com)

8th Annual South Jersey Pumpkin Show
October 8-9
Egg Harbor
Atlantic County 4-H Fairground, 10 am to 6 pm; $2. (856-765-0118; sjpumpkinshow.com)

Allentown Fall Festival
October 8-9
Allentown
Downtown Allentown, 9 am to 5 pm; free. (609-259-4350; allentownnj.com)

Sussex County Harvest Festival
October 15
Augusta
Sussex County Fairgrounds, 10 am to 4 pm; free. (newjerseystatefair.org)

20TH ANNUAL PUMPKIN FESTIVAL
October 15
CAPE MAY
Historic Cold Spring Village, 10 am to 4:30 pm; free. (609-898-2300; hcsv.org)

28th Annual Cranberry Festival
October 15-16
Chatsworth
Main St/Route 563, 9 am to 4 pm; free. (609-726-9237; cranfest.org)

4th Annual Heirloom Garlic-Tasting Festival
October 16
Hoboken
Hoboken Historical Museum, 1301 Hudson Street, 1 to 5pm; free. (201-656-2240; hobokenmuseum.org)

Howlin’ Halloween
October 22-23
Woodstown
Frisbee and costume contests for pups. 10 am to 5 pm; $10. Salem County Fairgrounds (fidosfestivalusa.com)

Last Fling Pumpkin Sling
October 22-23
Washington
9 am to 6 pm; $5. 290 Millbrook Road  (908-283-0721; pumpkinsling.com)

Stony Hill Farm Market Corn Maze
Through October 31
Chester
$12.99. 15 North Road  (908-879-2908; stonyhillgardens.com)

Pumpkin Land Festival
Through
October 31
Vernon
Heaven Hill Farm, weekends and holidays, 10 am to 6 pm; $7 . Weekdays, 10 am to 5 pm; $5. (973-764-5144; heavenhillfarm.com)

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